The trade involving Kawhi Leonard between the LA Clippers and the Toronto Raptors has been put on hold. The delay stems from an ongoing NBA investigation into allegations of salary-cap circumvention by the Clippers. Both teams issued statements on Thursday, confirming the trade will not be finalized until the league concludes its probe.
The agreement in principle for Leonard’s trade to the Raptors was reached on June 30. This deal would see Leonard return to the franchise with which he secured the 2019 NBA title. In exchange, the Clippers are set to receive Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, and a package of draft picks, including unprotected first-round selections in 2031 and 2033.
Investigation Impacting Trade Finalization
The Raptors stated their eagerness to add Leonard to their roster but confirmed they would wait until the league’s investigation is complete. This decision is to avoid assuming the risk of any potential penalties or alterations to Leonard’s contract that might result from the ongoing inquiry. The NBA informed the Raptors that finalizing the trade would mean they would assume this risk.
The Clippers acknowledged the investigation and their participation, noting they were informed of the potential penalties the Raptors would inherit if the trade were finalized. They expressed confidence that the trade would be finalized following the investigation’s conclusion. The league office expects the firm handling the investigation to finalize its work in the coming weeks, though a specific timeline for its conclusion has not been provided.
The investigation by the NBA began in early September 2025. It focuses on allegations that the Clippers, and chairman Steve Ballmer, used a sponsorship relationship with the environmental company Aspiration to circumvent league salary-cap rules. Aspiration, now bankrupt, served as the team’s jersey-patch partner until the end of the 2022-23 season.
The allegations were detailed in a series of episodes of the “Pablo Torre Finds Out” podcast. The Clippers have maintained their innocence, asserting that they were victims of fraud initiated by Joe Sanberg, a co-founder of Aspiration, who has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for his role in a scheme that defrauded lenders and investors.
Uncertainty for Both Franchises
The delay in finalizing the trade creates uncertainty for both the Clippers and the Raptors, affecting their offseason plans. The Clippers have completed several other transactions without complications, including trades involving James Harden, Ivica Zubac, and Chris Paul, as well as the free agent signing of Rui Hachimura and the re-signing of Kobe Sanders.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver acknowledged the ongoing probe before the start of the 2026 NBA Finals, indicating that the investigation is far along and nearing a conclusion. The upcoming NBA Board of Governors meetings next week present a potential opportunity for the league to close the investigation. The Clippers expressed confidence that a fair evaluation of the facts would confirm their stance that they have not engaged in the accused activities.
The Raptors remain optimistic about bringing Leonard back to Toronto and anticipate a swift resolution for their players, organization, and fans. Leonard was in Toronto for Kyle Lowry’s retirement announcement on Tuesday, and the Clippers brought Dick into their facility at Intuit Dome on Monday.
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Source: nytimes.com
